Reincarnate favored in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby
At 0h01, on March 31, 2023 • By OAKLAWN PARK
Southern California-based Reincarnate is the 5-2 program favorite for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Oaklawn.
Probable post time for the Arkansas Derby, the 12th of 13 races, is 6:24 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:15 p.m. The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 points to the top five finishers (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. It is Oaklawn’s fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race.
The projected 11-horse Arkansas Derby field from the rail out: Bourbon Bash, Reylu Gutierrez to ride, 119 pounds, 15-1 on the morning line; Interlock Empire, David Cabrera, 119, 20-1; Harlocap, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119, 15-1; Two Eagles River, Nik Juarez, 119, 10-1; Airtime, Cristian Torres, 119, 15-1; Angel of Empire, Flavien Prat, 122, 9-2; Rocket Can, Junior Alvarado, 122, 4-1; Reincarnate, John Velazquez, 122, 5-2; King Russell, Rafael Bejarano, 119, 30-1; Red Route One, Tyler Gaffalione, 119, 3-1; and Kolomio, James Graham, 119, 30-1.
“How should I put it?” said Tim Yakteen, who trains Reincarnate. “Nothing against the morning line oddsmaker, but it’s nice to be made a favorite because that means that you do have a legitimate shot. You always like that.”
Reincarnate returns to Oaklawn after finishing a troubled third in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. The Rebel, Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points race, marked Reincarnate’s first start for Yakteen.
Reincarnate, a son of champion Good Magic, had made his first five career starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The colt was transferred to Yakteen shortly before the Rebel, owing to Baffert trainees being ineligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Churchill Downs suspended Baffert for two years after his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, was disqualified because of a medication violation.
